"Time is but the stream I go a-fishing in." -Henry David Thoreau

5:10AM

Whoever was the jackass that invented stake-outs Speedy was sure as hell he would track that man down and gut him out like a fish, and if the guy was already dead then screw it, he had better things to do. And rather than spending the evening with his topside sushi boy he was stuck in some shabby apartment face glued to the glass of the window. Here he was watching absolutely nothing happen for the last nine hours and ten minutes practically dying of agonizing boredom.

Groaning the archer rested his heavy head on top of his arms as he slunk deeper into the raggedy chair. It had been a painstakingly slow night full of disappointment, and the teen was practically ready to collapse from just the rigid dullness and dire urge to drift off to sleep. And instead of infiltrating a supposed drug cartel Speedy had been stuck surveying the moon shift positions in the sky, completely and utterly devolved in monotonous dusk emptiness. There was no activity, no bad guys, no drugs; nada, zilch, zero.

Dammit.

5:19AM

Cracking his fingers for the umpteenth time he leaned back as the sun began to peak over the city's horizon. There wasn't really any point to keep looking out now that the early risers were beginning to creep out from their homes and scramble to get ready for work. Besides what type of criminal deals in the daytime, freaking idiots, that's who.

Speedy yawned, stretching his freckled arms over his head as he adjusted himself back onto his seat. Man, he was totally gonna chew out Bee when he got back. She sent on this bogus mission and all he found out was how stiff his back could get from some shitty chair.

How much time was left again?

5:26AM

Less than ten minutes had passed.

Seriously? Could time be any slower?

Almost slamming his head down in desperation the archer let out a muffled yell into his hands.

He was only staying for Aqualad, because of a stupid bet he made. If he could sit through a whole night without once messaging or complaining then that underwater sea sponge would have to give him something worthwhile, and no way in hell was Speedy gonna lose. His pride was way too important to call it quits.

Only thirty-four more minutes, he could do this. This was easy.

5:40AM

This was not easy. Why were the last minutes so excruciatingly long? He'd been here for hours and yet these last ticks of the clock were driving him to insanity.

The communicator felt heavy in his pocket as his hand itched towards it only stopped by his sheer will to not give in. He was fucking Speedy, he was not about to give up now, not after the last nine hours.

Balling his fists the teen grit his teeth as he stared motionlessly at the walls.

5:52AM

He'd calm down a bit, the crazed desire to sprint into the awaiting arms of his bundle of seaweed thwarted by the thought of being treated as a failure for giving in. He was so not going to let that happen, rumors spread way too fast within the Titans.

Speedy glanced at his watch, the hands moving so slowly it felt like time had stopped. He let out another tired sigh switching his thoughts from his dumb mission to his beloved boyfriend, it wasn't like anything was going on anyway, most of the pedestrians who popped out were collecting mail and buying coffee now.

Sheesh, he'd hate to be one of those poor souls, stuck in a cubicle the whole day.

Instead of returning his hidden blood shot eyes to the streets, his vision morphed to images of his pretty little fish. Speedy felt his heart begin to flutter as a loopy smile appeared drawn between his reddened cheeks.

Mhm Garth, those long ebony locks, and deep pools of violet eyes, he always looked so delicious. Not to mention he always looked so regal despite being a total aquatic spaz, with his flailing hands and undignified snorts.

He really missed that seawater scented numbskull.

Sinking into his daydreams Speedy let his mind wander, tracing every line across an imagined Aqualad as the minutes sped by.

5:58AM

A light sneeze caused by a spontaneous bout of dust shoved the archer back into reality as he blinked his sight clear of some rather risqué romantic fantasies.

Only two minutes left, almost there.

5:59AM

Ten. Nine. Eight. Seven. Six. Five. Four. Three. Two.

Bingo.

6:00AM

Finally the wait was over as the archer slung his bow across his back and tore out of the building. He had to get back soon just to prove to his kelp sucking boyfriend that he totally won this bet. No one challenges an Arrow and wins.

Speedy snorted, a cheeky grin stretching over his face.

"I told you so, Fishsticks."

6:34AM

"Yo Gil-Face!"

Aqualad turned around only to grunt as strong arms wrapped unsuspectingly around his shoulders. A hot breath blew against his neck and fingers began to roam down his body causing a slight moan to seep through once pressed lips.

"Did you miss me?"

Side eyeing his returned boyfriend the prince huffed with a small smile, "Of course I did."

Then matching his own wandering hands to Speedy's he reached up, tipping the archer's chin towards an awaiting kiss. Slowly breaking away their lingering tongues, Aqualad's eyes narrowed as he pulled the other's collar towards him, ready for round two.

Beckoning closer the archer taunted him with a sultry gaze flaunting, "Didn't message you once throughout the whole night, so now you owe me one Waterboy."

Aqualad's forehead barely rubbed against Speedy's as their bodies began to tangle into each other.

"Bee and the twins won't be up for another hour." He huskily whispered, enjoying the blush already spreading across the redhead's face, "Ready for your surprise?"

Speedy smirked, flashing a sly toothed grin.

"Hell yeah."

7:30AM

Bumblebee shot upright, her hair in a frazzled mess as she attempted to turn off her alarm blaring next to her. Rubbing her eyes she rolled out of bed nearly falling over as loud rhythmic thumping was heard from outside her room.

Irritated from her lack of morning coffee she trampled out into the hall, slamming her fist against the wall of the ocean dweller's door.

"Aye! Fish, keep it down!"

"Go away!"

"That was rude." She mumbled with a scowl.

Wandering back to her room the team leader froze with a sudden realization, her face flushing with embarrassment.

That wasn't Aqualad's voice.